Queen’s Address to Parliament

A beautiful stained glass window to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee has been unveiled at a ceremony at the Palace of Westminster.

Queen Elizabeth II was presented with this wonderful Jubilee gift by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords, when she made her Parliamentary address to both Houses on Tuesday, 20 March 2012.

It is tradition for The Queen to address Parliament every year when she announces her Government’s Bills. In this, her Diamond Jubilee year, The Queen used her address to praise Parliament and pay tribute to the British virtues of ‘resilience, ingenuity and tolerance’. She also paid tribute to The Duke of Edinburgh, whom she described as her ‘constant strength and guide’ over the years.

The Queen made reference to the incredible 3,500 Bills she has signed into law during her momentous 60-year reign.

Her Majesty also spoke about the Diamond Jubilee and said she hoped it would present the opportunity for people to come together ‘in a spirit of neighbourliness and celebration of their own communities’.

And once again, Queen Elizabeth II vowed to ‘rededicate’ herself to the service of this great country.

The magnificent stained glass window, which has been designed by the British glass artist John Reyntiens, is made of 1,500 separate pieces of glass. It will be installed in the north window of the ancient Westminster Hall.

For a fabulous range of glassware to commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee including Dartington Crystal and Royal Scot Crystal click here.

Image: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II makes an address next to her husband The Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Hall in London on Tuesday, 20 March 2012. Photo credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth.